On Thursday, Hiring Our Heroes came to the the Upper Valley to make that transition a little smoother. The job fair offered opportunities to meet employers face to face and figure out how vets can channel their skills towards a new career.

"It's an amazing thing to do, because these people need us," said veteran, Patrick Swain.

The staff sergeant knows first hand the benefits of services like Hiring for Heroes. The Iraq and Afganistan vet has been working with them for two months and now can add another job to his resume.

"I got the phone call yesterday saying that I start Monday," said Swain.

Stories like Swain's are the reason why dozens of local veterans and National Guardsmen flooded the Hiring Our Heroes fair, an event put on by the US Chamber of Commerce, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, and other organizations, to lay the groundwork for their own success.

Around 50 employment services and local employers hosted seminars and met with potential hires. Organizers said that events like this help bridge the gap between veterans and companies and give employers a good idea how they can fit a veteran's unique skill set into their workflow.

The next event in the area will be held in Rutland next month. For more information on Hiring Our Heroes, visit their website here.